The Islamic State group attacks in the Syrian capital Damascus and the city of Homs, claimed at least 140 lives.

In Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, during a series of four blasts at least 83 people were killed, state media say. Many reported earlier a double car bombing, In Homs in which 57 civilians were killed
Both of Sunday’s attacks targeted areas where Islamic minorities dominated, and reviled by the Sunni Muslim radicals of IS.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has long been accused of persecuting his own people, said ordinary Syrians who had fled the conflict due to the “standard of living that has been deteriorating drastically” could go back without fear of action by the government.”We want people to come back to Syria,” he told reporters. About 250 000 Syrians have been killed in the conflict and above 10 million others have left their homes and town, out of whom four million have fled other countries- including exponentially increasing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe.
The Amaq news agency, which is linked to IS, said IS militants had detonated a car bomb and then blown up explosive belts. A local resident, told to reporters that he was sleeping in his home when he heard an explosion.”A man detonated the bomb on his body,” he said.”Another five to seven minutes later, a second man detonated his body bomb there. I was right here looking at him.”
The monitoring group in here confirmed at least 50 Islamic State fighters had been killed in an advance by government troops and backed by Russian air strikes.